The Age of Stupid: New Film Gives Us a Painfully Realistic Look at Life in 2055

The Age of Stupid: New Film Gives Us a Painfully Realistic Look at Life in 2055

By Sean Pool, Climate Progress. Posted March 19, 2009.



The central premise: We would be the first life form to knowingly wipe itself out. What does that say about us? Tools
EMAIL
PRINT
71 COMMENTS
Share and save this post:








AlterNet Social Networks:



Also in Water

An Inside Peek: Why the World Water Forum Is a Sham
Jeff Conant

Access to Sanitation Reserved for the VIPs at World Water Forum
Meera Karunananthan

Fifth World Water Forum Marked by Violence and Repression
Jeff Conant

World Water Forum Starts with a Bang: Activists Challenge Corporate Hypocrisy
Mark Hays

Corporate Interests Challenged at World Water Forum
Hilmi Toros

Why Top Restaurants Are Ditching Bottled Water for Tap
Ina Pinkney

More stories by Sean Pool

Water RSS Feed

Main AlterNet RSS Feed
Advertisement

London is underwater, New Orleans won’t be rebuilt a third time, the arctic is ice free, and agriculture is failing, which leads to global food riots and ultimately the collapse of civilization…. This is the premise of the new crowd-funded British independent film The Age of Stupid.

Set in 2055, the film portrays a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the worst impacts of climate change, and looks back at the critical period between 2005 and 2015 to examine why we didn’t save ourselves when we still had the chance.

In an opening sequence, the narrator (played by Oscar nominee Pete Postlethwaite) takes us through a montage of news reports describing visible impacts of climate change: A 101 degree day in London, 700 dead after record flooding in India, record breaking drought in Melbourne, desertification in China progressing at the rate of 3 miles per year, dozens of Antarctic ice shelves collapsing faster than anyone predicted, 18 million affected by flooding in parts of Africa, and a glacier in France having shrunk 150 meters since 1945.

The fact that the clips in this montage are all real-life news reports from 2007 and 2008 is chilling.

Indeed, although framed by a post-apocalyptic narrative set in the future, the bulk of the film is actually a documentary about the impacts of climate change that we are already seeing in 2009 — and its not pretty.

That the impacts are depicted through the lens of real human stories makes the film’s message all the more accessible and compelling. Here is a snapshot of some of the characters and their stories:

Alvin DuVernay is a career oil paleontologist from New Orleans who spent his life directing drill bits for Shell. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, he personally rescued 100 people in his boat, but lost his home and all his possessions.

I lost everything. Everything that I owned. Quite literally. Except for my boat. I mean everything from family heirlooms to the paper towels sitting on your kitchen counter. And everything in between. It goes on and on.

I mean what more of a wake up call do you need? At the very local level all the way through and including the top federal level I just don’t see that awakening, that epiphany in the politicians’ eyes. I don’t see the sense of urgency. And I certainly don’t see movement. A year or so later, after the event, and not a whole lot has changed.

Then there is the 80-year old French Alps mountain guide who, over the course of his 45-year career has seen the glacier that he loves shrink by 150 meters:

When I first saw all these mountains. The beauty. It was wonderful. It was truly love at first sight.

We created this problem. Always progress, progress, progress. Always demanding more and more from the planet.

And then there is the wind farm developer whose noble attempts to get a few wind turbines installed in a rural part of England are rebuffed by selfish grassroots resistance (the whirling of the blades might hypnotize people while they are driving….)

The fact that you can’t go skiing anymore or that the glaciers are melting is not really the point. The point is that’s a signal that basically the earth is destabilising and all the norms that have allowed life to exist as it has done are changing.

If we don’t face up to our fears, I just feel we’re abusing it, our environment which gives us so much. We’re just rampantly, disrespectfully trashing it.

The film traces these real human stories to convey the impacts of climate change on a personal level, and is at times funny, scary and tender. What’s amazing is that all of the material is real.

The fictional aspect of the film serves only as a narrative device until the very end, when a final sequence of news reports takes us from the year 2007 to 2055: 80,000 fatalities from a giant cyclone in Asia, water rationing in Holland, forest fires sweep across Spain, the decision is made not to rebuild New Orleans for a 3rd time, a drinking water crisis erupts in Pakistan, heat waves strike San Francisco, 35 million Chinese become climate refugees, skiing in the alps is over, 100 million are homeless in Bangladesh due to massive flooding, the European Union permanently closes its borders, the last Indonesian tree falls to make way for palm oil production, a 30-foot swell overcomes the Thames and floods London, New Zealand closes its borders to Australian refugees, 100 million refugees flee the middle east, half of all species become extinct, ecosystems collapse across the planet, the north sea boils, food riots become so severe that people begin to eat their own cats and dogs, nuclear war breaks out.

The stated goal of The Age of Stupid is to “turn 250 million viewers into climate activists,” and it makes the case that we have to stabilize and begin to reduce global emissions by 2015 to avoid the catastrophic consequences it speculates about above.

Even if a bit over-the-top (come on, the North Sea boiling?) this hard-hitting final sequence is nonetheless powerful, and left me watching the credits role with a sense of urgency that even as a long-time climate activist I had not experienced before.

Postlethwaite’s final monologue then really drives the message home:

We wouldn’t be the first life form to wipe itself out. But what would be unique about us is that we did it knowingly. What does that say about us?

The question I’ve been asking is: why didn’t we save ourselves when we had the chance? Is the answer because on some level we weren’t sure if we were worth saving?

The Age of Stupid is set to premiere in US theatres next month.




See more stories tagged with: global warming, climate change, age of stupid

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from Water! Sign up now »


Water » Story Tools: EMAIL PRINT 71 COMMENTS
Advertisement
Advertisement


Comments Turn comments off sitewide Give us feedback »
Tools: [Post a new comment] [Login] [Signup] View: Threaded Expand All Collapse All Flat Flat Unthreaded
More than one way for humans to think the species to death.
[Report this comment] Posted by: aouie01 on Mar 19, 2009 12:47 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

One other way may be traveled on by the people who believe that the world is better off without humans.

Another way is that we may evolve to be so reliant on medical intervention, could result in mass vaccination with an unknown long-term effect killing off everyone.

Another way (similar to the previous one) is that we may release some chemicals or nano-particles specifically meant to fix some global issue that results in human extinction due to an unforeseen possibility.

Another way (similar to the above two) is that we may someday carry out some experiment that accidentally results in a massive explosion or implosion or biological weapon or other catastrophic thing that winds up killing all of us humans.

Sincerely,
Aouie

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The ego & self-centered fear is a killer
[Report this comment] Posted by: weathered on Mar 19, 2009 12:59 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Fear that I'll loose what I have, or not get what it is I think I need that motivates selfish, destructive and fearful behavior.

Humility eludes us, denial becomes us and trouble follow us.
For some this simple, but essential lesson is too hard to grasp.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The Age of Stupid is Right - But It Started Over 30 Years Ago
[Report this comment] Posted by: tony_opmoc on Mar 19, 2009 3:01 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

We have allowed stupid Religious and Political leaders to continue to encourage us to go forth and Multiply as if it was 2000 years ago, and the Earth was of infinte space and at the Centre of the Universe.

We have built Weapons of Mass Destruction such that we can kill everyone 10 time older - simply on the basis of powerful Political Leaders having Personal disputes.

We have dumbed down Science to such an extent that the core of Science is no longer taught in Schools - merely the Story of Science as if history or religious studies are being taught.

Science has been totally corrupted - such that only results that concur with the funded objective are retained. Any results that disagree are discarded. The result is for example - a range of powerful, highly profitable drugs that cause far more damage to human health than they resolve. Yet most people believe that these drugs are doing them good.

Another result is that most young people believe that CO2 is a pollutant and is responsible for Global Warming. They are indoctrinated with this - continuously - in school - in the media etc - as if it is a New Religion.

The Agenda is simple to understand. It is about mass population reduction via every method available to those in control.

The most efficient cleanest way to depopulate the Earth has been deemed to massively reduce Energy Supplies.

The promoted story that we are running out of energy is nonsense. The Earth is abundant in energy. Peak oil is a hoax - but population growth isn't. But if the oil and money supply is switched off - then there will be mass starvation, poverty, civil wars and genocide.

That's what we have in store for us because we are Stupid. We believe nonsense promoted by corrupt extremely rich idiots. The lunatics have taken over the asylum - and we are being culled.

It's already happenning - check out what those drugs you are taking - for your high blood pressure, your cholesterol, your depression etc etc are actually doing to you. Virtually all such problems are a result of an unhealthy lifestyle. Taking drugs will not solve the underlying problem. Change your diet, do more exercise, relax and have far more sex. Clear your body of all the shit - and clear your mind of all the indoctrination. Think for yourself. Realise that you are being fed nonsense. You are right to be paranoid because the bastards really are out to kill you - and you are like a Turkey voting for Christmas.

So go to your Global Warming demo in the coldest temperatures in generations - but don't be surprised if you get frostbite. The bastards have already taken your mind.

Tony

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: The Age of Stupid is Right - But It Started Over 30 Years Ago Posted by: weathered

» Because THEY won't let them, see. Posted by: -matti

» RE: The Age of Stupid is Right - But It Started Over 30 Years Ago Posted by: tony_opmoc

» So rock-oil is NOT finite? It is renewable? Posted by: -matti

» RE: So rock-oil is NOT finite? It is renewable? Posted by: tony_opmoc

» RE: So rock-oil is NOT finite? It is renewable? Posted by: robert.noll

» RE: The Age of Stupid is Right - But It Started Over 30 Years Ago Posted by: F-Abdolian

» If you DON'T check, how do you KNOW the monsters AREN'T under your bed? Posted by: -matti

» RE: Are you trying to prove yourself a product of the Age of Stupid? Posted by: Jasonix

» RE: Oh yea, I forgot to add this question, Tony... Posted by: Jasonix

» RE: Oh yea, I forgot to add this question, Tony... Posted by: tony_opmoc

» RE: I'd think you're part of that 25%, tony Posted by: Jasonix

» RE: I'd think you're part of that 25%, tony Posted by: tony_opmoc

» RE: Not sterilized, just tweaked Posted by: Jasonix

Will this climate shift be worse than the end of the last Ice Age?
[Report this comment] Posted by: -matti on Mar 19, 2009 3:22 AM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Humans survived that.

'Course they didn't have many nukes laying around, then.

Just in case the whole "taming the entire ecosphere" thing doesn't work out, should we maybe take the "hair-trigger launch kill everything 5 times over weapons" off line first?

Y'know, seeing as how they sprung from a cultural misunderstanding/greed stand-off that ended 20 years ago, maybe we don't need them anymore?

They worry me just a bit more than climate instability itself does.

Also, why do climate prediction models -especially Brit ones- always forsee both hotter AND drier conditions? Did warmer air stop holding more water vapor than cooler air when I wasn't looking? And what's the Gulf Stream, chopped liver? It's the only reason Britain isn't as cold as Nova Scotia. What's the fresh water dumping from the Greenland ice-sheet gonna do to it, make it work harder?

How much of this climate change scare/panic is about the end of humanity, and how much is it about the end of the current hierachical systems we tend to call Industrial Civilization?

Because if the former is more important, then shouldn't the nukes that could kill us all in 45 minutes take precedence over the climate shifts that may kill many of us indirectly through famine and war over decades or more?

Questions, questions.

-matti.

P.S. BTW I totally buy the idea that the climate is shifting or going more chaotic -I even see Industrial Civ.'s pollution contributing to the process- so please no "right-wing denier-nutcase" comebacks, okay? I just don't think there's any reason to be in quite the hysterical panic about it that many seem to wish to induce in the population. Several decades is a helluva lot of time to find high ground and good microclimates, don'tcha think?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Here's what you don't understand. Posted by: SpiderWoman

» Here's what YOU don't understand. Posted by: -matti

» RE: Here's what YOU don't understand. Posted by: leafsong1

» The problem is.. and most environmentalists don't talk about this... Posted by: JoshuaLudd

» RE: The problem is.. and most environmentalists don't talk about this... Posted by: JenniferBedingfield

There's more to the film.
[Report this comment] Posted by: SpiderWoman on Mar 19, 2009 3:31 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

The Age of Stupid is multifaceted. It also brilliantly displays people's hypocrisy - and makes it a bit difficult for anyone to think him/herself to be different - and it, somehow, offers hope by getting people all wound up to do something about it.

My review of the film's premiere is here: Is Humanity Suicidal? A review of The Age of Stupid. This is a wakeup call and a call to action. The premiere acted as a kickoff for a brilliant campaign, Not Stupid. The question is, are you Stupid or Not Stupid? Let's start marching in the streets and force our politicians to do the right thing in Copenhagen.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Both of you do not understand
[Report this comment] Posted by: Rod on Mar 19, 2009 4:35 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Yes, average global rainfall goes up.

Areas that were in food production become unusable.

Some become deserts. Other areas become too wet.

Current agriculture is adapted to between 20 to 60 inches a year, more than that and you can not work the fields where you need to, plant or harvest. Rain forests do not produce a lot of food per acre.

There will be different crops and methods. They probably will not provide enough food. It is hard to predict technology. It is a risk.

Stop breeding now. Begin conservation now.

Rod

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Thus saith Arthur C. Clarke
[Report this comment] Posted by: social democract on Mar 19, 2009 5:13 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

There is as yet no proof that intelligence has any survival value.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

A Question for -matti
[Report this comment] Posted by: redbridge on Mar 19, 2009 5:23 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Would you consider reading President Carter's Energy Address from April, 1977?

linked text

The opportunities lost - by ignoring the evident for the last 3 decades - are not recoverable. While I agree that nuclear proliferation is a real threat to humanity, I'm also able to recognize that there is much work to be done on this planet, every day. I revel that some will fight the fight against arms build-ups, while others consider earth stewardship their mission.

Peace.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

But a growing frequency of rising oil prices will eventually put an end to this.
[Report this comment] Posted by: Zipidee DooDah & Dipidee DooDog on Mar 19, 2009 5:32 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

The article assumes that everyone will still be rewarded for staying their guzzling course. However, what's not mentioned is that folks with greener solutions might finally get better representation down the road especially if we can throw out the Republican and Democrat parties and replace them with strong 3rd parties such as the Green Party, Reform Party, Peace and Freedom Party, etc ... Hey, give me some tax cuts for riding my bike to work, not some gas guzzling consumer !

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» There is no evidence that rising oil prices will actually... Posted by: leafsong1

» Actually, there is. Demand declined a little last year until the prices were articially lowered. Posted by: maxpayne

the sociopathic agenda
[Report this comment] Posted by: dongarb on Mar 19, 2009 6:09 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

All of human history for the past 10,000 years has been influenced, directed and controlled by sociopaths. Them and their psychopathic thugs and human followers. And what's really important to the insane group that runs the world: is that they remain in the driver's seat.

To be the ultimate masters of a poisoned, burned out cinder of a dead planet, is far more preferable to them than being just another happy human in an abundant, healthy Earth. It's not just ordinary people with a bit too much greed who execute the lies, waste and atrocities that plague this world, it's the insanely evil.

Until the human race snaps out of it's domesticated stupor and realizes that it's evil people who do evil things, then everything we know will die so that a few elites can remain in power.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: boy, way to let yourself off the hook, fella Posted by: Jasonix

Sam
[Report this comment] Posted by: samdale@mail.com on Mar 19, 2009 7:07 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Good article on probable total destruction of Planet Earth. But once again, not a word about population control as a means to either slow down the extinction or perhaps put a stop to it. The subject of population control, thanks to religion, is taboo. It is NEVER mentioned or, god forbid, discussed. And yet the world's exploding population is the direct cause of just about every problem faced by every nation & the planet in general. Too many people & too few resources to support them. Lack of fresh water throughout the world looms on the horizon as our next big worry. Mankind continues to breed its way toward extinction. Unfortunately, we're going to take all the other species with us in the process. Man is the worst thing to ever happen to Mother Earth. Lucky for me, I'm old & probably won't be around when it really hits the fan, but on the other hand, you never know.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Population control must be the most talked about taboo subject around :-) Posted by: jparsons

Bye-Bye suckers
[Report this comment] Posted by: torbis5661 on Mar 19, 2009 7:38 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

In 2055 I will be 99 years old.
But with 2 incurables (being a diabetic & Have M.S.) I don't think so.
I will be long dead before any of you,when that year comes.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Bye-Bye suckers Posted by: alturn

We will not change
[Report this comment] Posted by: frankly1 on Mar 19, 2009 7:39 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

I have lost count of the number of movies, articles and books that I have read or watched on this subject. Most of them are well done and quite scary. However, it seems quite obvious that our species is not going make any serious attempt to change our behavior. I talk to people every day who firmly believe that this issue is a hoax. I feel so privilidged to be able to converse with such genius. To be so sure, based on almost nothing, must be a sign of a vast intelect. You see I am one of the poor souls that has to take in information from the thousands of highly educated scientists and their thousands and thousands of hours of research and investigation to form the opinion that humanity is indeed in peril because of the harm we have inflicted on the system that we are part of and depend on for our existence.
If and when I can get one of these super smart folks to admit that we have a problem they usually say something to the effect that they won't be around to see the worst - I always reply "yea, fuck the kids and the grand kids, we got ours, right".
Governments will do nothing, except squabble and bicker and kowtow to few that own them and whose interest they represent.
Step right up folks and take your places for the next mass extiction.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

choose one
[Report this comment] Posted by: mwildfire on Mar 19, 2009 7:40 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Okay folks, choose one: you can worry about nuclear war, or climate change. We can reduce our population to sustainable levels, or we can force the rich to stop their massive overconsumption. We can move toward green transportation infrastructure, or we can have renewable, carbon-neutral electricity production. But we can't do more than one thing, or acknowledge more than one problem, because...
WHY exactly, does this sort of thing come up in every thread? Why can't we reduce our population AND our consumption? Deal with peak oil AND climate change AND put an end not only to the insanity of nuclear weapons but all weapons? The challenge of greening our energy and transportation and agriculture in the very short time we have before the positive feedbacks kick into overdrive and make catstrophic further warming unstoppable, is perhaps not possible unless we divert the HUGE percentage of our resources now going into warfare and start using it constructively.
And by the way, nature does not feel obliged to pick and choose--we will have both floods AND desertification, warming in most places but a possibility of cold in Europe if the Gulf Stream shuts down entirely, which has happened before. We may have floods one year and drought another in the same place. What we'll get is more extremes, and extremes are not good for agriculture. Millions will certainly starve, and if we don't recognize the need to start cooperatively reducing our numbers it will happen for us, in a drastic die-off with probably billions culled (especially if we also fail to address the other challenges mentioned).

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Not everyone is stupid or will be stupid. Besides,
[Report this comment] Posted by: JenniferBedingfield on Mar 19, 2009 8:09 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

those of us who aren't stupid are called "stupid" while those who are actually stupid are called "gifted". It starts in school and goes all the way into adult life. I worked my butt out getting better education and I found myself still fighting tooth and nail for a higher level position against an arrogant uneducated freak. No offense to him but while he deserves to be employed, he was supposed to be in the mid-level position while I was supposed to be in his place based on my education and experience. It was a tough fight but I eventually won him out.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE:"...arrogant uneducated freak." Posted by: sausage

» RE: "...arrogant uneducated freak." Posted by: JenniferBedingfield

» RE: Gee, I'm white too! Posted by: sausage

» Oh KISS MY ASS ! Posted by: JenniferBedingfield

» RE: Oh KISS MY ASS ! Posted by: leighsure

» RE: Oh KISS MY ASS ! Posted by: LaughingModerateIndependent

» RE: Oh KISS MY ASS ! Posted by: CarlaWaters

North Sea Boiling, probably inference to methane clathrate
[Report this comment] Posted by: abbadon2007 on Mar 19, 2009 9:39 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Also known as methane hydrate, or methane ice.

This stuff is the largest and most distributed form of methane known on the planet, forming a layer immediately beneath the surface of all known submerged continental shelves, but particularly in cold regions. It's the reason for the enormous Siberian methane offgas over the past few years.

Methane clathrate has even been implicated as a cause for several shipwrecks. Methane hydrate deposits can become unstable and rise to the surface in sufficient amounts that the water appears to "boil" and its local density decreases enough to sink a vessel.

I hope that clears something up a little. The scientific community has been working on methods to harvest this stuff as a resource since the early 90's.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Only the Arctic Ocean will boil Posted by: PaulK

Progressives need to offer answers, not doomsday scenarios
[Report this comment] Posted by: zooeyhall on Mar 19, 2009 9:47 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

If I were a non-commited person, rather moderate in my politics, I would truly find it hard to become a Progressive. Especially after reading articles like this one.

Yes.. we have problems. But we are more equipped today to deal with them then we were in the past.

Instead articles like this and the people who write them have a sinister Malthusian agenda. I have talked to some "greeners" and read some articles that seem to just stop short of advocating mass culling of the human race.

All done in the name of some grotesque "mother earth religion".

It seems like Britain, of all places, is the epicenter of this.

While the Nazis are most associated with the mass killing of human beings in the name of some nebulous "greater good", the Left is fully capable of this as well. As seems implied by certain elements of the environmental group today.

Remember--Pol Pot's Killing Fields was not planned in some jungle hideout. It was hatched by him and some other fellow cronies in the leftist climate in the academia of late 1950's France.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: So, f*ck for Jesus, right? Posted by: sausage

» STOP THAT !! He's not some religious freak you paint him to be ! Posted by: JenniferBedingfield

» RE:An 80-year-old man who regularly wears dresses... Posted by: sausage

» Thank you zooey ! You're one of the few who makes sense on this topic. :) Posted by: JenniferBedingfield

» There is a difference between persecution... Posted by: leafsong1

» Did you actually study the population shifts of the past 2 decades? Posted by: maxpayne

» Logic works somewhat differently with your head up your butt. Posted by: leafsong1

» I agree with zooey on this one Posted by: frantic1971

It's only a movie
[Report this comment] Posted by: sausage on Mar 19, 2009 10:18 AM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

I can see from the tenor of may of the comments on the above movie review that the Idicoracy is upon us.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Numbers game
[Report this comment] Posted by: willymack on Mar 19, 2009 10:26 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

The plain and simple truth regarding the human condition is this: There are far too many of us to continue to feed, educate,house, etc. More people means more STUPID people as well as more smart ones, and let's face it; STUPID people predominate, and continue to force the rest of humanity to their will. Left to the STUPID people, the fate of humanity is grim, indeed.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Check out the movie "Idiocracy"
[Report this comment] Posted by: Defenestrator on Mar 19, 2009 11:04 AM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

It's a comedy, really funny, Fox never released it in theaters. Written by Mike Judge; it shows the future of the world after only stupid people are breeding.

You can get it on Netflix

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Plagues
[Report this comment] Posted by: LeeAnnG on Mar 19, 2009 11:54 AM
Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

The late, great Kurt Vonnegut said something to the effect that humans are a plague upon the earth, and now the earth's immune system is fighting back.

A poster above indicated that articles like this one present an "either or" scenario in which we must fight, for example pollution or overpopulation. I definitely did not get that from the article. None of the factors were specifically rejected; some of them were simply not included. Too often, people seem to assume that if a writer addresses one problem rather than another, that author does not see the importance of related issues. But it's not possible to include every problem in every piece of writing.

There are many, many problems that contribute to the environmental collapse. Overpopulation is certainly one, excessive use of fossil fuels is another. But the fact that one author elects to discuss the effects of fossil fuel use does not in any way indicate that he or she is indifferent to the problems caused by overpopulation.

People like to nitpick, and it's probably not such a bad thing because it keeps us thinking. However, it is likely that a more productive discussion could occur if posters focused on the topic of the articles and found specifics that ARE included rather than going on rants about what the author neglected to include.

The fact is that our earth is in bad shape. We are losing more and more species to extinction every day, ice caps are melting, extremes in weather are becoming more severe and common, heat waves kill people each summer, pollution in our water is causing hermaphroditism in fish and amphibians - and it is likely to be causing illnesses in the human population, too. Think about how many people you know who have cancer, allergies, or other maladies and whether it seems to be a higher percentage than it used to be. When I was in school, many years ago, I don't recall that there were any students in my classes with asthma or chronic sinus infections or food allergies. Now they are absolutely commonplace.

Any discussion of these issues should be welcomed, not trashed in every way possible. We may not agree about the premise or the conclusions, but the comments could still be thoughtful and helpful rather than kneejerk reactions that simply scoff at what the author says simply because a pet project (no matter how worthwhile) was not mentioned.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

The root of all evil – and our death.
[Report this comment] Posted by: monkeywrench on Mar 19, 2009 12:03 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

"The question I’ve been asking is: why didn’t we save ourselves when we had the chance? Is the answer because on some level we weren’t sure if we were worth saving?"
. . . .

No, it was because it would cost too much. After all, when money becomes the goal of all effort, then money is all that you're left with.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

All this doom-and-gloom articles is just plain idiot.
[Report this comment] Posted by: maxpayne on Mar 19, 2009 12:15 PM
Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Constructive ideas please.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Constructive Ideas Posted by: Artkansas

» RE: Constructive Ideas **STAY AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE"S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS** Posted by: maribelle

GLOBAL WARMING
[Report this comment] Posted by: foxxx on Mar 19, 2009 1:10 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

I FIGURE IF OUR SPECIES IS LUCKY WE MAY SURVIVE 2028, BY THAT TIME MOST OTHER NATURAL SPECIES ON EARTH WILL BE GONE. LET ALONE 2055. IT SEEMS PEOPLE DONT CARE ABOUT SURVIVAL. LIKE WASHINGTON STATE. THE ARMY ENGINEERS STOPPED A COMPANY FROM PULLING LOGS FROM BOTTOMS OF RIVERS TO SELL FOR FOOD AND AT THE SAME TIME LOWER THE RIVERS. SEPT/08 I CONTACTED THE WALLAPA HARBOR HEADQUARTERS AND ASK FOR A LICENSE TO LOWER THE RIVER, SINCE WE CAN SEE SAND BARS IN IT AND WE HAD A FLOOD RECENTLY. I WAS TOLD THE ARMY ENGINEERS REFUSE FOR IT FOR 2 YEARS. SO I FIGURE WE'LL ALL BE FLOODED AND SOME MAY DIE. THE ARMY ENGINEERS IGNORE WORK AND TELL EVERYONE TO GET FLOOD INSURANCE. LAST YEAR THEY LET SOME WATER OUT OF MUDD MT. DAM AND MANY CITIES GOT FLOODED NEEDLESSLY. I EMAILED THE WHITEHOUSE, FIGURING MAYBE THE PRESIDENT WILL DO SOMETHING, BUT I DOUBT IT. IT SEEMS HE ONLY TALKS, BUT NO ACTION, JUST TALKS. MY URL http:/'/www.inventube.com/ooojay/blog/ IF YOU WHO NEED DIRECTION FOR FOOD, FRESHWATER, STOP FLOODS + MY URL HAS FREE SOLUTIONS, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS USE THEM AND BY ALL OCEAN CONTINENTS EXTRACTING THE SAND FROM ALL BEACH FRONTS WILL LOWER ALL OCEANS TO STOP YOUR COUNTRIES FROM GOING UNDERWATER. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DO IT. I'VE EMAILED THE ARMY ENGINEERS AND ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD LOWER ALL RIVERS IN WASHINGTON STATE 15 FEET, SO WE WONT GET FLOODED AGAIN, BUT THEY REFUSED IT AS SPAM EMAIL. ALL RIVERS IN ALL STATES NEED TO BE LOWERED AS LONG AS THE OCEANS ARE RISING, WE'LL KEEP GETTING FLOODED. ONE REASON FOR NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LOWER RIVERS IN WASHINGTON IS BECAUSE OF THE DIAMONDS THEY GET FROM OUR RIVERS, SINCE THE VOLCANO'S HAVE BEEN ERUPTING EVER SINCE TIME BEGAN FOR VOLCANOS IN MY OPINION. BY IGNORING THIS AND NOT LETTING ANYONE ELSE DO IT ONLY BRINGS DEATH, DESTRUCTION AND DISPLACEMENT FOR ALL SPECIES INVOLVED. I THINK THE ARMY ENGINEERS SHOULD BE DISBANDED FOR IGNORANCE AND UNNECESSARY DESTRUCTION AND LOSS OF LIVES ALL OVER THE U.S.A.. I'M SURPRISED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVENT SUED THE ARMY ENGINEERS YET. THE NEXT FLOOD WE GET I'M GOING TO SUE THE ARMY ENGINEERS FOR REFUSAL TO PREPARE FOR FLOODS BY LOWERING ALL RIVERS.THE REAL SUBJECT WAS 2055 OF WHICH IN MY OPINION, DUE TO LAZINESS OF STOPPING THIS PROBLEM WONT MAKE IT TO 2055. HAVE A NICE DAY. MIKE SCHMITZ

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: GLOBAL WARMING Posted by: Ahimsa

Who you calling stupid?
[Report this comment] Posted by: Geonomist on Mar 19, 2009 1:31 PM
Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Problem is, people like calling others names, and exaggerating -- there's no way to know if the film describes the future realistically, since people have acted intelligently before. The real problem is the scientific gene is a rarity. Even do-gooders and social critics fail to think things thru. If policy is to make a difference, a critical mass must look to what has worked before. That brings us to economic justice, a powerful tool to make the world work right for everyone. Yet even AlterNetters ignore it. If you're ready to move beyond name-calling and hand-wringing, google geonomics; its variants have worked wherever tried.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

PRIOR TO 2055
[Report this comment] Posted by: foxxx on Mar 19, 2009 1:34 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

FOR YOU THAT NEED HELP NOW I SUGGEST YOU USE MY GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS, SINCE MY GLOBAL TEAMS ARE SEARCHING FOR THE BEAMS SO WE CAN DESTROY GLOBAL WARMING SO MOST SPECIES CAN MAKE IT THROUGH 2055. DUE TO THIS WEB SITE ALTERNET= WWW.ALTERNET.ORG IS REFUSING ME TO SHOW YOU FOR THE SECOND TIME THE FIRST SOLUTION OF GLOBAL WARMING, SO YOU'LL ONLY SEE 3 OF THE SOLUTIONS.












SOLUTION 2/ OF 4 SEARCH IN CREVICES FOR BEAMS, BY PLACING NETS OVER MAIN PART OF OPENINGS AND 3 CAMERA'S WITH TRIP WIRES ATTACHED TO NETS. 1 AND 2 LINK UP. SOLUTION 3/ OF 3 IS IN FULL OPERATION. A PARTIAL OF SOLUTION 3 MAY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY COMETS IN DEEP SPACE, I HAVE BEEN WAITING CONFIRMATION FROM THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE, BUT STILL NO WORD AFTER WEEKS OF WAITING TO SEE IF ITS STILL THERE OR DESTROYED. SOLUTION 4/ OF 4 =THE FINAL SEQUENCE TO DELETE GLOBAL WARMING BY USEING THE EXPERIMENT OF WHICH I CAN EXPAND TO ANY SHAPE NEEDED AND THE MINERAL TO COMPLETELY DELETE GLOBAL WARMING BY DESTROYING EACH BEAM, BUT SOLUTION 1 AND 2 MUST BE COMPLETED FIRST. THATS WHAT I MEAN BY SURVIVING TO AND THROUGH 2055. THIS TAKES TEAM WORK FROM ALL NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER OR NO NATURAL SPECIES ON EARTH. HAVE A NICE DAY. MICHAEL J. SCHMITZ==GLOBAL COMMAND.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

This movie reminds me of that Scientology move put out by...
[Report this comment] Posted by: stop_censorship_on_Alternet on Mar 19, 2009 3:32 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

...John Travolta. Like that movie, this a big pile of BS as well.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Just more fodder for the gloomy doomers
[Report this comment] Posted by: dayahka on Mar 19, 2009 4:07 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

Look, everyone these days seems to be joining the gloomy doomer bandwagon, with at least several new scenarios a day. This is getting tiresome. Let's just take a look at some key facts.

There have been numerous climate change events over the billions of years of life on this planet. In all cases, whether massive cooling with mile-thick glaciers down to the tropics, or searing heat, life has survived, including, at least over the last four or five million years of the life of our species. Did civilization survive, whatever civilization means? Who knows? Civilization means organized living, and surely even the presumed Yeti or Big Foot have survived even amidst the wholescale savagery of homo sapiens.

Will our species survive? Who knows? If we can learn to adapt, we might. If we try to repudiate the laws of nature and move the clock back in time through some alleged mitigation strategy, we will likely just be wasting our time.

As for the time line in this movie, 2055 is way too far in the future. We are already facing economic collapse, water problems, food production shortages, and numerous problems that could come together far sooner than 45 years hence to force our hand. In any case, there is no imperative that says our species is exempt from extinction, and stupid or not, when we break certain laws of nature (like overpopulation and sustainability), we're likely to get hit by the consequences. I don't think intelligence or lack of it is the key. The most likely culprit is a severe case of narcissism and arrogance--moral failings, in other words.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -